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Caravanserai is the fourth studio album by the American band Santana, released on October 11, 1972.

“Drawing on rock, salsa, and jazz, Santana recorded one imaginative, unpredictable gem after another during the 1970s. But Caravanserai is daring even by Santana’s high standards. Carlos Santana was obviously very hip to jazz fusion — something the innovative guitarist provides a generous dose of on the largely instrumental Caravanserai. Whether its approach is jazz-rock or simply rock, this album is consistently inspired and quite adventurous. Full of heartfelt, introspective guitar solos, it lacks the immediacy of Santana or Abraxas. Like the type of jazz that influenced it, this pearl (which marked the beginning of keyboardist/composer Tom Coster’s highly beneficial membership in the band) requires a number of listenings in order to be absorbed and fully appreciated. But make no mistake: this is one of Santana’s finest accomplishments.” – Alex Henderson/AllMusic.

Track listing:

01. “Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation” Rutley, Schon, Shrieve 4:28
02. “Waves Within” (instrumental) Rauch, Rolie, Santana 3:54
03. “Look Up (To See What’s Coming Down)” Rolie, Santana 3:00
04. “Just in Time to See the Sun” Rolie, Santana, Shrieve 2:18
05. “Song of the Wind” (instrumental) Rolie, Santana, Schon 6:04
06. “All the Love of the Universe” Santana, Schon 7:40
07. “Future Primitive” (instrumental) Areas, Mingo Lewis 4:12
08. “Stone Flower” Jobim Santana, Shrieve (lyrics) 6:15
09. “La Fuente del Ritmo” (instrumental) Lewis 4:34
10. “Every Step of the Way” (instrumental) Shrieve 9:05

Personnel:

Carlos Santana – lead guitar (2-4, 8, 9), guitar (5, 6, 10), vocals (4, 6, 8), percussion (1, 8),
Neal Schon – guitar (1,3-6,8-10)
Gregg Rolie – organ (2-6,8,10), electric piano (6), vocals (4), piano
Douglas Rauch – bass (2-6), guitar (2-3)
Douglas Rodrigues – guitar (2)
Wendy Haas – piano (1,8)
Tom Rutley – acoustic bass (1,6,8-10)
Michael Shrieve – drums (1-6,8-10), percussion, vocals (8)
José “Chepito” Areas – percussion, congas (7), timbales (2-4,6-7,9-10), bongos (8)
James Mingo Lewis – percussion (1,8-9), congas (2-10), bongos (7), vocals (6), acoustic piano (9)
Armando Peraza – percussion (8), bongos (9)
Hadley Caliman – saxophone intro (1), flute (10)
Rico Reyes – vocals (6)
Lenny White – castanets (6)
Tom Coster – electric piano (9)
Tom Harrell – orchestra arrangement (10)

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Released: October 11, 1972
Recorded: February 21–May 5, 1972
Studio: Columbia Studios, San Francisco, California
Length: 51:21
Label: Columbia/CBS
Producer: Carlos Santana, Michael Shrieve